Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-17
MY SARATOGA WIDOW.
From Harper's Weekly.


And four OF US were growing very angry with
each other about her-four gentlemen who had
been friends for years, and who would not have
believed week previous, that anything could in
teTfere with their cOmradeShip. We staid at the
Grand Union-quite the proper thing for people
who have ne business at Saratoga except to sam
pl" the different springs bet few dollars on the
races and walk about the principal avenues at
fashionable hours. III, Mr.. Sebastian Selover had
confined my walks TO those hours could not have
Claimed that had the best right TO the young
anu handsome widow. But that dio have the
best right, and that any set Of men not utterly
perverse would have admitted 1t, no one who reads
my story viii dispute.
IL was about O'Clock one morning. had found
myself awake at little past daylight and unable
TO get another wink. remember distinctly that
the day was lovely, that the air was full OF the
perfume OF grasses and flowers. The streets were
nearly deserted The ten thousand guests OF the
hotels-including three individuals whom then
called friends-were still wrapped in slumber: 1
mad walked at least mile, and was In locality
SparSely settled, when heard scream. am
not professional novelist, ana IT Is unlikely That
could deceive you II tried may as Wen, tnere-
fore, admit without the usual circumlOcutiOn that
IL was the widow who screamed. With galantry
which is part OF my nature fastened toward
the sound OF distress. A minute later graSped
the villain by the throat and laid my heavy walk
tng-stick over his head, forcing him to relinqusn
his hold on her watch and chain, which he mad
tired with remarkable boldnesS to take in broad
daylight.
ihave got on too fast Let me explain that the
villain was man suppose all villains men,
but this one was hard-lOoking cftiZen-a sort or
Pirate OF Penzance, so TO speak. He actually was
OF mind at first to try conclusions with me, but
two or three blows such as might have staggered
OK made hun change his notion, and OFF he
went, after giving me an ugly Scowi and a NUT
tered curse; while the vidow-did say it was
the widOw?-staii there with me- although at first
apparently undecided whether to remain or follow
his example. Talk OF beauty! I've seen the bellies
OF half the American cities, not TO mention the
fair ones OF a dozen European capitals, but this
well, this was something different. / shall not
try TO describe her. for despair OF doing her JUS
tfce. A good deal of the effect was undoubtedly
In her agnificent complexion. There is more in
complexion than most people admit. Her hair
was dark and her eyes matched IL we'll She was
neither too tall nor too slender. i couldn't tell
can say. however, that her bosom rose and fell
like little billow" with her agitation and that
her neither lip trembled so violently that ex-
pected for minute to see tear torrents come
Iumbhng down her cheeks.
IL was love at first sight with me. Ipresume
showed as much In the glances gave her. for she
biuShed like a Dakota sunset. She spoke first.
Had It been left for me TO speak first, we might
have been there yet. She said was very brave
and kind. and responded that she must not men
tlon 1t. have not the slightest doubt that said
a number OF nonsensical things besides. What is
fellow 10 do when thing like this comes all of
sudden into his lfe7 accompanied her 20 her deS-
tinatiOn-a large white cottage, which stood, vine
EMPOWERED, In the center OF a green lawn bordered
with high shrubbery She had quite recovered
her equanimity by this time, and parted from me
unconstraint. She wasn't so deeply in love as
was. At least don't think she was at that time
My three friends at the hotel-soon to be
changed into trio OF enemieS-received me bois-
terouSly.
What the blazes took you out-of-doors at such
an hour OF the night?" cried Fisher.
by gad he's pale as ghOSt!" chfmed In Kim
ball.
..This Saratoga water Is too much forhis delicate
constitution" INTERCEPTED BeardSley.
''Oh, shut up" said i, throwing the expression
pell-men at the whole party. Then went into
my room, shut and locked the door, and got into
Yes, 1t was perfectly clear. Fate had smiled
upon me. She was evidently destined TO be mine
j turned TO the mirror. My face was trifie pale
but otherwise not so Unlocking. Then had a
very good practice for man OF thirty, and few
thousands invested in dividend-paying stocks. IL
would not do TO hurry the matter too fast. Per-
hapS my predecessor had not long been dead. He
couldn't d have departed rerg long ago. Tor she
An at once my pleasant dream was violently
disturbed.
Had she child?
Perhaps she had two!
No. ! Gained myself. Three was impossibk;
two not probable. One? Yes, she might have
one.
Boy or girl9
decided without hesitation that II should he a
girl i would not consent TO have boy suualling
around with mumpS and measles; certainly not
another fellows boy. This point settled, I felt
easier. My spirits became buoyank almost gay
Then another thought sobered me; how should /
communicate with her? By letter? To what ad-
tage, or was she merely making an early call when
met her? might find out by collaring the milk
man; but wouldn't that look sneaking? Probably
be would take me for rogue, and give my descrip-
ton TO the widow and the police as dangerous
character. / thought OF Disgusting myself as a
gypsy woman and going In TO tell her fortune, as
Rochester, in Charlotte Bronte'5 novel Then /
wrote several impassioned notes but In spite OF all
j could do they were filled with quotations, and
didn't wish TO seem like plagiar1st.
at last reached sage conclusion. As fate
had so generously thrown me into the path of
ha IN vrfd
me to the conSummation Of my happiness. left
the issue with my stars and went down TO lunch
with light heart and an immense appetite
Fisher remarked that looked better than i did
In the morning. BeardSey and kimball agreed
with him We had merry time at the table,
ana soon after rising from 1t went out for our
usual stroll As We turned into Congress Park
i saw 10 my CONSERVATION that she was there
and coming directly toward Us. She was ac-
companled By an elderly lady. What should /
do? My thoughts Travelled rapidly. felt that
had no right 20 presume on my haphazard ac-
easy on that score lacked the moral courage to
face the volley OF raillery which i might expect
made up, and looked straight before me- nv
cheeks were aname. seconds seemed hours. As
we met In the PARK the ladies, dresses almost
felt certain that could lift my hat to her with
out offense, but did not dare try what might
prove fatal experiment.
Then came the crash.
Each one OF those wretChed fellows with whom
was walking raised his hat, and both ladies gave
an unmistakable inclination OF the head in re-
turn
waited until was sure We were far enough
away, and then turned and said, with severity
'Wlli you please 10 tell me where you 10 ade that
Lady acquaintance"
what lady?'' said Fisher.
Tine lady We passed just how'll responded,
With dignity.
But say, you know" put In Beardsley, tive
met two ladies'"
..He means the young widow" said Kimball.
Perhaps should have been obliged TO MIN for
the explanation, but wasn't.
Il never saw either OF them before to my knoWl.
edge, said Fisher, after slight pause.
Quired, holly.
Habit got into out West last year, said
Fisher. "Eyeryb body bows TO every body out there
and can't shake on the custom. Wish / could
really"
..And your continued, turning to Beards!ey.
We all stood In a circle, and can see them now
looking at me.
''Why," he said, hesiratingly, al Alpposed Fisher
knew her. and bowed because he did thought
IL was the proper thing"
"And your" went on, to Kimball
81 always bow 10 any pretty woman when get
the Chance, ne answered, uIousningly "Whatis
the matter, Selover? Is she on your lisJ?n
Its none OF your affair. i responded rurtously
whether she Is or not She Is lady and neither
you nor any other man shall speak OF her In INV
presence with disrespect.n
kImoau smiled little. Then he said coolly az
should certainly speak with dfsrespecJ OF the
lady 70 whom we refer, as intend " marry her
this fall"
marry her" gasped 'You have just said
you did not know her"
ut was Fisher who said that" corrected KIM